The Night Watches

We went to the park as a family on Monday. We were hoping to get to ride the train at Wheaton Regional, but forgot to check and see if the massive storm we had on Sunday would hinder this outing. We packed up and headed out, only to find half the park covered in downed trees. BUT we had fun on the playground. Jack tires pretty easily, so it was not a long visit, but it was fun. I love my boys! Jack wanted to put his hat on the seal. Apparently , the seal needed some shade. I think Tyler was pointing to some trees that had fallen down. But this is not that foreign of a pose... Tyler trying to be the boss and Jack just being Jack. Love how he is so content in the stroller, chewing on my key holder. Love my babies!

Where has the time gone?? I cannot believe this little squirt is already 8 months old! So much has happened developmentally with him the past two months! Here is a quick recap: He is crawling like crazy, he is pulling up and standing most of the time, he eats solids like there is no tomorrow, and he JUST started taking a bottle!! He has two big brothers to keep up with, so I guess that is why he is always on the move. No teeth yet, but some serious teething and fussiness going on here. He also got a hair cut, around the same time we cut Jacks hair. He looks so different to me, but so adorable! He is still on the tiny side of things. He is in size 6-9 month clothes, but I think he could still fit into some 3-6 month stuff. He is so tiny, which makes it hard to believe he is already 8 months old. Oh I love this little rascal.

Jack went in for his spinal tap yesterday. All went well. He did great. We did find out though that he did NOT make counts. His ANC is 250. As I said before, it has to be at least 1,000, so he has a lot of rebounding to do before we can proceed. So, we will check again on Friday to see if they rise. As much as the rest between cycles is welcome, we do not want to delay too much in getting this phase over with! Thanks for the prayers friends!

I took Jack in yesterday to get his blood counts tested to see if he was up for beginning the next section of Delayed Intensification that was scheduled for Monday. Turns out he has an ear infection! That morning, he seemed to be fine, and then about an hour before we planned to go, he was grabbing his ear and crying more than normal. I suspected something, and I am so glad I took him in. So in addition to catching an ear infection before he got a fever, we found that he also does not have an ANC count anywhere near close to starting the next phase. His ANC has to be greater than or equal to 1,000 to begin. And well, his is around 300. So we will be going in Monday for a chemo in his spine, but unless his counts go way up by Monday, we will be postponing the next phase as long as another week or just a few days - which ever scenario get his counts high enough to proceed. While we were at the clinic yesterday, they went ahead and gave him IV antibiotics to treat the ear infection, and ...

We celebrated Jack being done with steroids this week by a trip to Rita's for ice cream and a little visit to a playground in our neighborhood on Tuesday. Although the effects of the steroids are just now beginning to show signs of wearing off, it was a happy day, to not have to give him those yucky meds anymore. We hate to see what they do to his poor body, and so Monday morning, when I told him he only had to take one med instead of 4, he was so happy! So we celebrated best we could! Tyler was thrilled of course, any excuse to get ice cream is a joy to him. Pop-pop came with us for the ride and fun. We didn't stay at the playground long, as Jack was not feeling well, but we had fun and I took some pictures. Thanks for all the prayers friends. I will post an update on how things are going and what to is ahead. We are so grateful for your support and cannot imagine walking through this time without the prayers of so many. God is meeting us in so many ways, and we are just amaze...